Bonhams American Art sale was held on May 22nd and the top lot for the sale was Charles E. Prendergast’s Fantasy, which sold for $704,075. Created circa 1916-18, this work is a highly-detailed and complex composition and retains its original frame made by the artist. After a 10-minute bidding frenzy, the work sold to a bidder on the telephone. It tripled the presale low estimate when offered at the range of $200,000- 300,000.

Jennifer Jacobsen, Director of American Art, comments: “We are pleased that strong results were realized across all American genres in a sale that was especially rich in works that were appearing at auction for the first time. Prendergast’s Fantasy in particular, was a fantastic result, and we were also delighted to achieve four world auction records for artists Stephen Hannock, Orville Bulman, Alton Pickens, and Stephen Greene.”

Additional top performing lots were:  

• Stephen Hannock’s The Oxbow, for Lane Faison with Betty and Agnes Mongan, executed in 2011, is a majestic landscape and was the first from this significant series to come to auction. It sold for $250,075, a world auction record for the artist.
• Entente Cordiale, a superb and exotic jungle scene by Orville Bulman that is the largest to come to auction sold for $112,575, a world auction record for the artist.
• The Acrobat by Alton Pickens, a highly exhibited and fresh-to-the market work sold by the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago to benefit the acquisition fund sold for $93,825, a world auction record for the artist.
• Stephen Greene’s Carrying the Cross was also sold by the museum and achieved another world auction record for the artist selling for $22,575.